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Yesterday’s release of the 2010 Keeneland Maker’s Mark bottle featuring UK basketball coach John Calipari was a slam dunk. Reports are that 24,000 bottles sold out everywhere in under 2 hours. There simply were not enough to meet the demand. Coach Cal and Maker’s Mark have decided to make 8,000 more of the bottles available. The catch is, they will be empty! They will feature the same design as the full bottles which sold out on Day One of sales. The only difference is that instead of the Surgeon General’s warning on the back label, there’s a message from the CFFC. The proceeds from these bottles will benefit The Calipari Family Foundation for Children to help better the lives of underprivileged children in Kentucky. The limited edition bottles are on sale now for $49.99 with free shipping anywhere in the continental United States. You can get order this bottle online directly from caliparifoundation.org

Why empty bottles? Maker’s Mark President/CEO Bill Samuels, Jr. said: “Cal’s foundation can now sell and ship them anywhere. With nothing inside there are no legal restrictions. Fans everywhere can get one and make a donation to his cause for kids. When Cal agreed to do our charitable bottle only available in Kentucky, he warned me about the nearly 1 million fans outside Kentucky that are not going to be happy. He was right.”

“Ellen and I would like to thank Bill Samuels, Maker’s Mark and Keeneland for making this special edition empty bottle to help support our Foundation. By not including alcohol in the bottles, we are able to ship these keepsakes all across the world and allow the Big Blue Nation to share in the commemoration of our first fabulous year in the Bluegrass,” Coach Calipari said.

The collaboration between Maker’s Mark and Keeneland, Kentucky’s world famous bourbon and its historic thoroughbred racetrack and sales company, respectively, could result in nearly $250,000 for the CFFC.

Watch the video below for more info about the Maker’s Calipari bottle.

Building on the past success of the Maker’s Mark/Keeneland charitable bottle series that supports projects at the University of Kentucky, Maker’s Mark and Keeneland are continuing the program with the celebration of UK basketball coach John Calipari, whose likeness will be featured on the bottle this spring.

The popular coach will team up with University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Maker’s Mark and Keeneland to raise money for a unique extension program highlighting the performing arts for elementary school children throughout the Commonwealth.

“It’s an honor to team with Maker’s Mark and the university in this unique fund raising opportunity to help benefit the UK Symphony Orchestra Outreach Program,” said Coach Calipari. “I’m not sure the world is ready for my face on a bottle, but if it helps the university, I’m all for it. I hope all our great fans will support this worthy effort.”

Maker’s Mark will donate proceeds from the sales – estimated to be about $300,000 from 24,000 bottles – to an extension program that is bringing the UK Symphony Orchestra and students from the UK School of Music into public schools and communities throughout Kentucky. UK is in the process of securing matching grants.

Bottles will hit the shelves in Kentucky only, on April 2nd, 2010. Suggested retail price of $49 if retailers take their normal mark-up.

A bottle signing, scheduled the day of the Grade-1 Maker’s Mark Mile, will be held Friday, April 9, trackside at Keeneland, with Calipari, Samuels and Nicholson. In an effort to better accommodate the growing legion of fans who attend the Maker’s Mark bottle signing at Keeneland, a few guidelines and a new ticketing procedure is being established. Details on the ticket procedure for the bottle signing will follow later this month from Keeneland.

Maker’s Mark President Bill Samuels Jr. said, “John Calipari brings so much excitement to Kentucky and he deserves to be honored for the phenomenal results he achieved with the men’s basketball program in such a short period of time. More important is his dedication to the betterment of the University of Kentucky as an educational institution and achieving Dr. Todd’s goals for UK. Cal’s enthusiasm is contagious and is a wonderful way to show how the success of his basketball program can support the greater good of the university and education throughout the Commonwealth.”

Check out the Calipari Foundation website for more information about obtaining a guaranteed ticket for the bottle signing this spring. Ebay auctions are currently under way for some of these guaranteed tickets.